Was on the freeway yesterday and had an Intrigue being driven by an African-American lady next to me. I was aligning with it to see what year it was. She was probably wondering what the hell I was doing. So, it had a trunk key lock and no hint that it was an Oldsmobile (no badge at the rear), meaning it was a 1998. Not at all scuffed up except for some minor dents and slightly weathered paint. She was cruising along nicely in a 20 year old card. As I pulled forward, the amber colored always on turning lamps were staring at me via my rear view mirror. Oldsmobile's last car and probably one of Oldsmobile's best cars. Very sad.

3800 powered. Wouldn't the final Aurora be Oldsmobile's last car? The Bravada was the last refresh to be introduced, but maybe that doesn't count as a car.

Montreal is a beautiful city. Not more than any other city on this planet. But Montreal is unique. It has English and French architecture. Its got both old world European flair with modern American panache.

Cuisine?

Montreal always had world quality restaurants. Las Vegas, Boston, Houston are some North American cities that have equalled and perhaps surpassed Montreal in that area..but...Montreal, along with NYC still remain surprisingly relevant.

What makes Montreal (and especially NYC) that great in all these areas?

Montreal (and NYC) are trully real cosmopolitan cities. For a couple of centuries now. Food is where this shows. Walk the streets of Montreal in the summer and then you get to see how cosmopolitan Montreal really is. its just not the architecture that is stunning, just how NYC stuns you with its high rises....its how the people interact with each other. All the colours of the ethnics...how each is represented in the city. Its great!

Very true. In Montreal, it is very okay to ask someone what their ethnicity is. Everyone talks about it. It's healthy ... and interesting. They might also do that in New York or Philadelphia or Chicago. That is almost not acceptable in the Western United States. It might be something you discuss with the offspring of more recently arrived Asians but not with the offspring of Europeans. It's very sad, especially if you're first generation. I hate the whole notion of the American "melting pot." It may be relevant if you are 4 or 5 different nationalities. It is certainly not relevant it you are 100% one nationality or a perfect 50:50 split of two nationalities.

Share on other sites

Bravada came out in 2002. Produced until 2004. The Aurora came out in 2001 until 2003. The Alero in 1999 up until 2004 and the Intrigue in 1997 as a 1998 model until 2002. (The Silhouette in 1997)

So Oldsmobile's last new model was in fact the Bravada. And none got a refresh of any kind. Intrigue got a Shortstar V6 after the 1st year run with a Buick 3800. The Aurora dumped the Shortstar V6 in its final year run. I do not know if the Bravada got something axed but I do know that the last 2 years of the Alero's production run, the Alero lost its 4 wheel disc brakes that it had for drums in the back.

But...last off the line, the last Oldsmobile ever built was an Alero. April 29, 2004.

And if talking about nameplates...well, the Alero is in fact the last new name plate ever introduced by Oldsmobile. The Bravada came out in 1990 as a 1991, the Aurora in 1995, the Intrigue in 1997.The Silhouette in 1989. The Alero in 1999.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I would have never believed that little 4 cylinders Aleros would go the distance, seeing so many on the road to this day.

It was an ecotec.

That ecotec is still being used by GM. Maybe not THAT particualr version. .But GM puts a derivative of it in everything nowadays that the Alero and Grand Am used. And it was and still is a very good engine.

It has powered some very cool GM rides ever since it was introduced.Th SAAB 9-3. The Kappa twins. The Cobalt SS. The CT6 PHEV...the Fisker Karma as the gasoline powered generator...OK, the Karma is not a GM ride. Still a cool ride. Beautiful ride actually.

That ecotec is still being used by GM. Maybe not THAT particualr version. .But GM puts a derivative of it in everything nowadays that the Alero and Grand Am used. And it was and still is a very good engine.

It has powered some very cool GM rides ever since it was introduced.Th SAAB 9-3. The Kappa twins. The Cobalt SS. The CT6 PHEV...the Fisker Karma as the gasoline powered generator...OK, the Karma is not a GM ride. Still a cool ride. Beautiful ride actually.

They were good engines but they had the most horrible sounding starters... lol they sound like a bunch of bolts in a spinning coffee can.